Dyche hails mentality after stunning comeback

Chris Boden

Clarets boss Sean Dyche was delighted with his players' mentality at recovering a two-goal deficit to claim a point at Cardiff.

However, his joy was tempered with his disappointment at referee Darren Drysdale's performance, as George Boyd appeared to have an effort turned over by a Cardiff defender's hand, while Tom Heaton was seemingly impeded for the Bluebirds' second goal.

Rouwen Hennings gave Burnley a lifeline four minutes from time, before Michael Keane's injury time header was diverted into his own goal by Matthew Connolly.

Dyche said: "Fantastic mentality, mixed with some good quality, certainly for the first goal, which makes a game of it.

"And the mentality to see though the decisions that went against us, and focus on the game, was fantastic.

"I talk to the players about it a lot, if anyone is going to criticise the referee, it will be me, you get on with playing the game.

"I thought the clarity to se through...I must make it clear, I haven't seen it again, but it looks like an absolute handball, which is not just a penalty, it's a sending off, but my instant reaction, and my players', was he tipped it away from the top corner - the ball deviates from a straight line into the top corner, outside of the goal, so something has happened along the way.

"I know these balls move a lot, but they don't move that much.

"Boydy has as good a view as anyone, it's fair to say he's an honest lad, so either he's got it wrong, or he's got it right, I can't define that until I see it properly again."

He added: "Despite that, to see though a number of decisions that went against us, a really poor surface for a Championship pitch at this stage of the season - for both teams - I thought we shifted the ball about well actually - they got a bit of energy after the decision goes their way, they nick a goal, and a second in the second half.

"They were two poor goals from our standards - we've been very strong this year on set pieces, and you are wondering.

"But again, the mentality and quality - the first goal is a great goal, people think it's just a furore at the end of the game, if you watch it back, it's a great goal, the movement off the ball, the find from Boydy, a great turn from Hennings, and he smashes the ball in the corner.

"We had the one wriggle from the keeper from Matty Taylor, which Dean Marney was a yard from and couldn't quite get there, we had the two chances first half, one cleared off the line - we did a lot in the game against a side that are going well, particularly at home.

"They've had their ups and downs away, but this is still a tough place to come."